Leakproof inkwell



ne@ 9, 1941. w. J. B ARGN 2,265,887

LEAKP'RooF .INKWELL FluedlA Dec. 9, 1940 2- sheets-sheet 1 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 pir 20 Claims.

This invention relates to an inkwell. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel type oi" inkwell VJfor use in connection with a desk top. It has now become a widespread custom in institutions of learning and in other places where desks are used, to use desks of the movable pedestal type which can readily be arranged in any desired pattern in a room and which can be stacked up out of the way when not in use. As these desks are not stationary in the sense cf being fixed to the floor, they are subject to being tilted either laterally, forwardly or rearwardly. When inkwells oi the ordinary type, as heretofore used are provided, the ink will sometimes spill out of the well. Often, these desks are provided with lifting tops, into which it is sometimes desirable to have an inkwell fastened.

It is a primary object, therefore, of this invention to provide a vacuum type inkwell, which is equally adaptable to either fixed or movable type desks, and in which there will be no danger, at any time, of any ink spilling from the well.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum type inkwell, so constructed and arranged, that there will aways be provided lan ink reservoir portion and fount portion for a pen, automatically fed by the reservoir portion.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a slidable closure in a fountain inkwell which is so constructed and arranged that tilting of the inkwell longitudinally thereof in either direction will automatically shift the closure to a closed position so as to thereby prevent spilling of the ink.

A further object of this invention is to provide an inkwell of this type having a slidable closure which will automatically shift to a closed position upon raising of the reservoir end of the inkwell so as to cut off entrance of air and thereby prevent spilling of the ink.

A further object of this invention is to provide an inkwell of the fountain type which includes an auxiliary closed chamber at one end of the main reservoir in which ink is adapted to fllow in the event the fount end of the inkwell is raised, so that in the event the main reservoir is completely filled with ink, the ink in the fount may flow back to the main reservoir and enough ink from the main reservoir will flow into the auX- r iliary chamber to prevent overflow of the ink.

Embcdying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the ac'- companying drawings, wherein is shown an ernbodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

' In the drawings: n

Figure 1 is a top plan view broken away of an inkwell in accordance with this invention, j

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 Figure 1,

AFigure 3 is a section on line 3-3 Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section online 4-4 Figure 2, ,A

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 Figure `2,

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 Figure 2, and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in inverted plan of the top section on the body part of the inkwell.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8, but showing the device with one end raised.

Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8, but showing the device in a reverse tilted, position to that shown in Figure 9. Y

The inkwell, in accordance with this invention, includesl a one-piece composite body part having an inlet and a closure slide shiftably mounted within the body part. The latter is formed of upper, intermediate and lower sections disposed in superposed relation and suitably secured together by heating or otherwise. The sections of the body part may be constructed of glass either transparent or translucent and suitably colored if desired, or such sections may be formed of cellulosic composition material, such as Bakelite, which may also be suitably colored. The top section of the body part may be colored in the manner to concealthe slide.

The body part of the inkwell is generally indicated at A and it is'formed of an upper or outer section l, an intermediate section 2 and an inner or lower section 3. The sections are disposed in superimposed relation.

The section l includes a slab-like upper portion 4 of rectangular contour, which is of greater width and length than any one of the other of the sections. The section I also includes an endless iiange 5 of oval contour. The ange 5 is integral with the lower face 6 of portion 4 and its ends and sides are inset with respect to the ends and sides of the portion 4. The section I has formed integral with the lower face of portion 4 a transversely extending rib 1, which is arranged between and is integral with the flange 5. The rib Iis arranged in proximity to one end of the ange 5. The portion 4 at one side of its transverse median and its end 8 is formed with a ared inlet opening 9 for the passage of a pen into the well. The opening 9 is intersected by the longitudinal median of the portion 4. The latter between the opening 9 and its side edge I0 is formed lengthwise' thereof with a rectangular slot II and -With the transverse median of said slot aligning with the axis of the inlet 9.

The sectionz includes an oval-shapedfslablike upper portion I'2 f an outline corresponding in contour to the ange 5. The portion I2 is secured to the bottom edge and is flush with the outer side edge of ange 5. The `portionf'IZ is formed with a segmental-shaped opening I3 at one end and is also provided witha'fpair `f spaced recesses I4 and I 5zin its upper`ace.to form tracks I6 at its sides and also a support I'I between and aligned with the tracks. The

y.purpose of thetracks fand lthefsu'pport I'I will `befreferred to. The.support VVII is formed with anc-opening I8 which aligns with .the-.opening9. .Integralrwith the` loweriiace oiand of less: length than the length of .portion I2 Nis ra-.depending oval-shaped wall 'forming=member vI:9, lwhich-is integral at its end 29 with theend-2l lef .por- -tion` I2and..at its'othenend 1224s integral with the portion I2 '.at a epoint removed nfrom the otherendof 'the latter. Integralwith the-lower face -f. portion I0, .depending .within Ithe Amember [9.and spacedfrom the 'end 22of the` latter is ,a partition 23 having its ilowerlendflush-With thelowerend of member 9. "The partition-23 coacts with the end`20 ofthe member'IQ :and Y also witha .'partof the .-.sectionl..and.section 3 to, provideA anink reservoir' 24. lThepartition 23 correlates with the end"22 of the member If9.to form a. passage 25 for the pen, notshown. The opening 'I8 communicates with `the.upper'end of the passage Y25. -The member'l'9 'andpartition`23. arecut out .at their. lower portions-as` indica'tedfat 26,`Figure5,. to4 provide portsf for. .establishing communication between the; reservoir 24 and a container orwellvformingamember tof-be l referred to. The -.portion n I2 .abuts .and is se- .curedltolthe. rib'. I- (Figure. 2)

'.Thesection 3..inc1udesan oval-shaped slab- 27,

whicha-butsagainst and is sec-ured--to-thebottom edge Hof -i',he.meniber I9. Apart of the slabf2I I rforms.the-.bottom'Wa-ll of the reservoir :24. -The Fsla-b 2 I 1is provided with fa -.tapered opening 29 fand it falso.l has. integral therewith fa', depending tapered yopen-top. container :oruwellf'ferming mem- `ber, 29 having.- its-'inneri face tomn-in'g=fa.'depend .ingY continuation of thewwallfof'1thel opening J29. Themember.ESQalignS-With thepassage'25.

The sectinnF Iicoacts' .withl thezportioni I2: ofi-the section 2 tof formeaf horizontally disposed cham- .ber .-30 in --which'.is: slidably imountedz-a islide 3 I vfer f the 'l-purpse 'of #closing the :openings v9 :and I 8,1 when ='theninkwellviseshited fromrnorm al positionythat is `to say'fwhenthefdesk istmove'd. The slide 3I issa'rrangedfinIthe'chamberw'upon the=v tracks Iiaa-nd'the support' I"I .and-it isf-pro- 'Vi'dedrwith' anfopening`f32 'for Iregistering with itheropenings i9 and I 8'toi permit'.l of 'the passage roi' thepen :into Y' the container `or wellf29` for receivi-n'gtheink supp-liedftoisuch container or 'well fromtheireservoir 24. Thef'slidef 3'I'has-1an 1112 fstanding-ilrrgerpiece33; which `extends through theslot? I I E-andis A-ennloyefdiformanually shiftin'gflthe slide to"bringtheppening 32:- into registry with-'the -openings9=an`d I8. l-vTlfie'end "walls of discharge of the ink.

The'insetting of the"'f1ange 5, with respect to the edges of the portion 4 provides the latter "with an overhang, as indicated at 34, and this '1.5 ,"overhan'g is provided for the purpose of suspending the inkwell in an opening in the desk "toppwhichis provided for receiving the major Lportion. of/ the inkwell` That portion of the inkwell I arranged in the desk top, is adapted to -besec-ured to the latter by any suitable means.

IIn the --use and .operation of this .improved inkwell, vthedevicel isadapted toY be mounted. in

lthetop of ,thedesk .and -Wherethe Adeskds .pro- .vided with a hinged.top, the.device is preferably 25 uposition'edparallel with .oneside'edge of thetop .andiw'ith the reservoir. 24 .toward -the...deskr front.

When the top`isv ina normal position, thewell fwlill be. inclined Yforwardly toaslight degree due .tothe inclinationof the desk top, butthis for- .ward inclination will.not materially alect the vquantity of ink which .is positioned in the dipping .well .or fount. "In Figure 8 .the well is vshown in. a`- horizontal positionV and it-will .be noted Ythat Yin-this position, the ink in'the'reservoir24 will lbe 'at a higher'levelthan'the level .-f '.thelink inv the dipping welll29 andthe chamber 2'5. Y.The .auxiliary reservoir'I3 ati this timewill Vbeenipty.

In the event the forward or`free edge of ltheLtop is.raised, the inkwell will .assumesub'stantially the.position' shown in Figure 9. .In this position, the 'slide or valvememberfSIwill gravitationally move downwardly so .as to position the opening32 therein out of. registry with theopenings 9 'and I8. 'The .ink will'ow intothe auxiliary reservoir I3 and will drain atleastpartly out of the dippingwell 29into the main reservoir24..

'Intheeventthe inkwell is .turned to avertical positionv'with lthe `reservoir 24 lowermost, theink from the Well 29 will substantially 'ow .intothe reservoir'24, the auxiliaryreservoir I3 Vprovidin-g sufl'icient space' to receive the ink. from the well 29 so .that in.a verticalposition,`the ink v-`willbe Ientirely contained in .the reservoir '24. Thisobtains in .the event thereservoir'24 is initially completely filled.

In Figure 10, there is .disclosed a second or reversed position of `theinkwell wherein the reservoir '2IJ is raised above the well 29. (In this position the valve or slide 3 I will move forwardly to'theposition shown so as to close the` passage between the openingsv 9 and I8. rTheink in the well or fount 29 will remain .therein and `some Aink from the reservoir 24 .will ow into the chamber 25. However, due to the factthat the slide3| .hasclosedthe openings 9 and I8, the 'airabove the leveLof the liquid in thechar'nber 25 willbe trapped .and in this manner, theink in the chamber 25.will notbe permitted to leak out'of the passages 9 and I 8. It-willbenoted `in'liigure 10.that the ink in thereservoir 24 is ata higher level than the ink in the-chamber 25. "This is due partly to the fact that the ink closes the openingsl between the.reservoir-24 .and the chamber 25 so that a partial vacuum isiormed inthe auxiliary. reservoir I3. and .the rearl upper portion of the reservoir 24. It has been found from actual experience that the inkwell herein shown will not leak ink in the event the reservoir 24 is raised to a Vertical position above the chamber 25.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10 the left side o the inkwell here shown is designated the front which will be disposed away from the desk occupant.

What I claim is:

l. An inkwell comprising a body adapted to be secured to a support and formed with an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below one end of the reservoir, ports leading from the bottom of the reservoir to the top of the receiver, normally open passage-forming means to permit of the insertion of a pen in said receiver and a slide chamber intersecting said means and disposed above said reservoir, and a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved to provide for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of ink.

2. An inkwell comprising a body adapted to be secured to a support and formed with an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below one end of the reservoir, ports leading from the bottom of the reservoir to the top of the receiver, normally open passage forming means to permit of the insertion of a pen in said receiver and a slide charnber intersecting said means and disposed above said reservoir, and a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved to provide for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of ink, said body including a partition forming an end wall of the reservoir and a part of one of the side walls of said means.

3. An inkweil comprising a body adapted to be secured to a support and formed with an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below one end of the reservoir, ports leading from the bottom of t e reservoir to the top of the receiver, normally open passage forming means to permit of the insertion of a pen in said receiver and a slide chamber intersecting said means and disposed above said reservoir, a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved to provide for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of ink, said body being formed at the top with a slot opening in said chamber, and means for manually shifting said slide connected to the latter and extending out- :ardly through said slot.

a. An inkwell comprising a one-piece composite body adapted to be secured to a support and formed of an outer section, an intermediate section and a lower section, said outer section being provided with an inlet, said intermediate section having a part depending from said outer section and forming in connection with the said outer and inner section an ink reservoir, said intermediate section being provided wtih a passage for a pen and an opening communicating with the said passage registering in spaced relation with said inlet, said outer and intermediate sections having correlating means providing a slide chamber therebetween, said inner section being formed with a depending ink receiver communicating at its upper end with said passage and arranged below one end of the reservoir, said intermediate section being formed with ports for establishing communication between said reservoir and said receiver, a gravitationally movable slide arranged in said chamber and having means for normally establishing communication between said inlet and receiver and automatically moving by gravity, when the support is moved for shutting oi communication between the inlet and the receiver.

5. An inkwell comprising a body part adapted to be fixed within a support and being formed with an overhang positioned on the upper face of the support, said body part including an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below and adjacent one end of the reservoir, ports leading from the reservoir and opening into the receiver, a normally open passage forming means to permit of the insertion oi a pen into the receiver and a slide chamber intersecting said means and disposed above the reservoir, and a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of ink.

S. An inkwell comprising a body part adapted to be fixed within a support and including an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below and adjacent one end of the reservoir, ports leading from the reservoir and opening into the receiver, a normally open passage forming means to permit of the insertion of a pen into the receiver and a slide chamber intersecting said means and disposed above the reservoir, and a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed intermediate its ends with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of ink.

'7 An inlrwell comprising a body part adapted to be nxed within a support and being formed with an overhang positioned on the upper face of the support, said body part including an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below and adjacent one end of the reservoir, ports leading from the reservoir and opening into the receiver, a normally open passage forming means to permit of the insertion' of a pen into the receiver and a slide chamber intersection said means and disposed above the reservoir, a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed intermediate its ends with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of and horizontally shiftable means extending from said body part for restoring the slide to normal-position. v

8. An inlrwell comprising a body part adapted to be xed within a support and including an ink reservoir, an ink receiver below and adjacent one one of the reservoir, ports leading from the reser- Voir and opening into the receiver, a normally open passage forming means to permit of the insertion of a pen into the receiver and a slide chamber intersecting said means and disposed above the reservoir, a normally stationary slide in said chamber formed intermediate its ends with an opening normally registering with said means and capable of moving gravitationally to an extent, when the support is moved for closing said means to thereby prevent discharge of ink, and horizontally shiftable means extending from port is movedl or dropped suddenly-while con-itrolling the level. `of the-ink. in said receivenand Yan apertured automatically .shiftable slide mounted in said .body intersecting said passage for closing thelatter .to prevent discharge of ink from said body when the support is moved.

10. An inkwell comprising abody adapted to.

"be secured to a supportand .formed with an ink receiver, an ink reservoir Aarranged above and to .one side for the receiver, ports for conducting ink from the reservoir -to said receiver, a pen .passage leading to thereceiver and means preventing splashing o-r throwing ofthe ink when the support is moved ordropped suddenly while controlling the level of the ink in said receiver, anapertured automatically shiftable slide mounted in ,25

said body intersectingsaid passage for closing the latter to prevent discharge ofink from said body when the support is .moved,. means for limiting the extent ofthe shiftingof the slide in opposite directions, :and meansfor .positioning .the slide ,30

to open the passage.

11. As a new .article of manufacture, a fountain inkwell comprising a. closed reservoir body, a fount extending below said body adjacent one end thereof, said body having an opening in a f wall thereofwhereby the liquid in said body may flow into said fount, a chamber extending'upwardly from said fount,.an apertured closure for said chamber, .and means slidably mounting said closure for movement relative to said chamber, said closure gravitatingly shifting to a chamber .closing position upon raising of either end of said body to thereby seal said chamber against entrance of air or outlet of ink.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a fountain inkwell comprising a closed reservoir body, a'fount extending' below said body adjacent one .end thereof, said body having an opening in a wall thereof whereby the liquid in said body may flowinto said fount, a chamber extending up wardly from said fount, an apertured closure for said chamber, means slidably mounting said closure for movement relative to said chamber, said closure gravitatingly shifting to a chamber closing position upon raising of either end of said body to thereby seal said chamber against entrance of air or outlet of ink, and an auxiliary chamber communicating with and extending upwardly from said body and adapted to receive .ink therein upon raising of the fount end of said body whereby allY of the ink from said fount may flow into said reservoir when the inkwell is tilted to` position the fount in a horizontal plane above said body..

13. As an article of manufacture, an inkwell `having a well forming chamber, an ink storing reservoir disposed above one side of and opening into said chamber, an apertured main closure or top common to said chamber and said reservoir, and an apertured slidable auxiliary closure shiftable to open or close the aperture in said closure or top, for providing access to said Well forming chamber, said vclosure being loosely connectedto said top.

vMhAsan article.of-maniifacture, an .inkwell 75' ncomprising a body including `side anda end walls, Aa bottomwall and atop wall,.a. partition extend- .ingbetween said side vwalls-dividing `said body into a main reservoir and a dipping chamber, a dipping well carried by and extending downwardly from said bottomyvall and communicating with said dipping chamber, said partition having a lower passage communicating the lower portion of said reservoir withsaid dipping chamber, said top wall having. an opening -communicating with said dipping chamber, and an aper- .tured closuremovably. engaging said top wall,

downwardlyv from said bottom wall and communicating with .said dipping chamber, said partition having a lower passage communicating the lower portion of said reservoir with .said dipping chamber, said top wall having' an opening communicating with said dipping chamber, an apertured closure movably engaging said top wall,.tilting of said body in opposite .directions effecting gravitational movement of said closure to a closed position, said top wall at one end thereof terminatingv inwardly of an adjacent. end

wall, an upper wall spaced from said top wall, a flange carried by said upper wall fixed to said top wall and said adjacent end wall,.and a transverse partitioncarried by said upper wall and xed to said one end `of said top wall and forming with said ange lan auxiliary pocket .disposed above communicating with said reservoir at the end thereof opposite from said rst partition.

16. As an article of manufacture, an inkwell having an ink receiver, an ink storage reservoir arranged above and opening at one end into said receiver, a pen passage disposed over, opening at one end into said receiver and arranged in juxtaposition to the said end yof the reservoir and a top common to said reservoir andpassage, said top being disposed in lateral relation with respect to said passage and formed with means to permit ofaccess to said passage, and apertured means disposed in slidable relation with respect to said -top and correlated Awith the said other means'for controlling access to said passage.

17. As an article lof manufacture, an inkwell having an ink receiver, an ink storage reservoir arranged above and opening at one end into said receiver, a pen passage disposed over, opening at one end into said receiver and arranged in juxtaposition to the said end of the reservoir and a top common to said reservoir and passage, said'top being disposed in lateralrelation with respect to said passage and formed with means to permit of access to said passage, apertured means disposed; in slidable relation with respect to said top and correlated with the said other means for controlling access to said passage, said apertured means beingfloosely confined in said top, and said top and apertured means having coacting means intermediate their ends for limiting the extent of the sliding movement of the said apertured means in opposite directions.

18. `As an articleV of manufacture, an inkwell having Van ink receiver, an ink storage reservoir arranged above and opening'at one endinto said receiver, a pen passage disposed over, opening at one end into said receiver and arranged in juxtaposition to the said end of the reservoir and a top common to said reservoir and passage, said top being disposed in lateral relation with respect to said passage and formed with means to permit of access to said passage, and apertured means disposed in slidable relation with respect to said top and correlated with the said other means for controlling access to said passage, the said receiver being disposed in depending relation vvith respect to said reservoir and passage.

19. As an article of manufacture, an inkwell having an ink receiver, an ink storage reservoir opening into said receiver and a top common to said reservoir and receiver and disposed in lateral relation with respect to the receiver, said top being formed with a chamber and with means opening into the chamber for access to the receiver, and an apertured means slidably mounted in said chamber and correlated with the said other means for controlling access to said receiver.

20. As an article of manufacture, an inkwell having an ink receiver, an ink storage reservoir opening into said receiver and a top common to said reservoir and receiver and disposed in lateral relation with respect to the receiver, said top being formed with a chamber and with means opening into the chamber for access to the receiver, and an apertured means slidably mounted in said chamber and correlated with the said other means for controlling access to said receiver, said receiver disposed in depending relation with respect to one end of the bottom of said reservoir.

WILLIAM J. BARGEN. 

